Re: The solution to our Striker issue? Just more evidence as to exactly how useless the floppin' fish has become.
Re: The solution to our Striker issue? LA doesn't need a Ruiz. They can trade him to JC Penny for a mannequin to prop up in front of the goal. They just need a body for Beckham to hit with his crosses (see: Edson Buddle w/ 9 goals).
Re: The solution to our Striker issue? Dude, I hate to disagree with you, but Buddle has been good this year. I know the guy has had his struggles with injury in his career, but he has scored some really nice goals. I'll even go this far: I think he and Kenny both have earned a chance with the USMNT.
Re: The solution to our Striker issue? ya but i think thats pretty typical Buddle. Maybe not to this rate, but he always seems to have a run where he scores a hat trick or several goals in a string of games, only to go to useless for the rest of the year. its why teams are always willing to take a chance and be that team he breaks through with. i will say he seems to have lost weight and looks quicker on his feet, so hopefully for his career, he can make something happen. however, if I saw him on the national team, I think I would be as depressed as I am seeing Wolff.
Re: The solution to our Striker issue? You know, some will say "See? The FO did well to jettison Ruiz when they did," but to me, I'd say that the situations are different. LA has scored 32 goals in 14 games, almost entirely without the services of Carlos Ruiz. We've scored 18 goals in 15 games. That's a pretty pathetic total and unless things improve rather dramatically, it'll probably be the #1 reason why we don't make the playoffs. Maybe LA's getting the idea that they don't need Ruiz around to get the goals, which is what our front office figured when they traded him. The difference is that LA's front office appears to be right, while our goalscoring was pathetic in 2007 and appears to just as pathetic in 2008.
Re: The solution to our Striker issue? I'd take him back. Then we'd be just as smart as Real Salt lake. But then at least we would have 2 legit scoring threats playing up top.
Re: The solution to our Striker issue? I do not want $400,000 of flopping, lazy, unfit Ruiz. Yeah, the guy has a nose for goal. No arguing that point. But there is also no doubt he is a huge burden on the payroll, one that may no longer produce; nothing is guaranteed. I think if he still had anything, he would be in the Gals line-up, at least as a sub. And I would think teams would be bidding for his services; teams like Houston could really use the "old" Ruiz. But I am not sure how many people out there want the new "old beyond his years" Ruiz. Maybe Chivas is making a wise move; maybe they know something we don't, but if LAG is willing to trade Ruiz away to not only a conference rival, but an intra-city rival, then the chances are that they don't think he's got too much left in the tank.
Re: The solution to our Striker issue? Ruiz is not worth 400K. Someone will take LA on their offer, though. Maybe Chivas, although that team isn't set up for a target striker and his lack of work rate would really frustrate Preki. Buddle has scored nice goals this season. His effort and hustle have improved significantly. He still is not a good defensive forward, doesn't have great speed, and doesn't pass well at all. Which, of course, makes him a cheaper version of Ruiz , but I don't think he is a good fit at the international level because if his inability to combine, similar to Cooper.
Re: The solution to our Striker issue? Let me throw out a thought... Colorado. Clavijo is desperate for someone who can finish, and doesn't care about combo play with his forwards. He also has wingers who provide great service, and if you pair Ruiz with Casey they would have that up the top. I would not be surprised to see them make a move. LA would ask for either money in return, or they could just grab a Petke, a defender who will not be in Colorado's plans anymore, and open up the salary cap to make a move via transfer. Burciaga is available, but LA has no need for a left back, they need someone central.
Re: The solution to our Striker issue? I agree with the Colorado thought. They need help up front more than any other MLS team right now, and Ruiz would surely help a little. As for the Hoops, the finishers haven't really been the problem. I think the midfield play has been pretty mediocre all season, and the guys in the middle haven't gotten the ball to Cooper and Oduro enough. I'm not a soccer expert by any means, but that's what I've seen. The play in the second half the other night was much better as Toja had himself much more involved. I think we go as Toja goes.
I think if he came back it would be a setback for KCjr. He has started moving centrally more than in the past and with Ruiz demanding that spot Cooper would move back outside. I would rather they brought in a speedy, crafty withdrawn forward that can create and score and also give Kenny a good reason to stay near goal.
Personally, I wouldn't bring him back unless LA continued to pick up a sizable chunk of his salary. It's not that I don't think that he'd be a useful player, and it's not as if I think that he couldn't co-exist with Cooper. (People seem to be having amnesia about 2006 on that point.) It's just that $350,000 is a big cap hit and I'm in no mood to be giving the Gals cap flexibility, while reducing ours. I don't mind adding that sort of salary to our payroll, but I'd like to do so while keeping $350,000 on LA's bench. If they were willing to pick up $200,000 of his salary, however, I'd be a bit more interested.
Re: The solution to our Striker issue? Let me throw another one out......Guatemala. Ruiz has been FIGURED OUT in MLS. Every defender in the league knows how to play the guy. No refs will give him a call unless the opposing player pulls a Ricardo Clark on him. So you are forced to play him for 90 unproductive minutes, hoping he finds a way to win a PK (which he might miss anyway) or creates enough havoc to open up space for someone else. He's a net negative for a team right now. No one wants to pay him or play him.
Re: The solution to our Striker issue? I think Texgator is almost as right as he thinks he is. Anyhow, MLS Rumors speculates off another rumor that a three-way trade involving "a California team" is about to go down. MLSR has Conde to LAG, Fish to TOR, and McBride to Chicago. That doesn't really jibe with TFC's "Euro is mo betta" ethos, but possible, perhaps?
Re: The solution to our Striker issue? LA's productivity has come from ONE BIG name and two lesser but still important names. The big one is Beckham. He's a difference maker of insane proportions. Always has been and always will be until he retires. The next two are Ruud and Landon. The legend has them working hard and Donnie is capitalizing off of Beck's play. It won't be long before we start hearing LA and "Total Football" uttered in the same sentence.
According to Drew Epperly at wvhooligan.com, Carlos Ruiz has now received his green card. Does this make Carlos, the Fat Floppin' Fish, more attractive now? What do you think?
Re: The solution to our Striker issue? No way Ruiz ever comes back to FCD. Not in a million years. San Jose maybe. Chivas USA? More likely. But Dallas? It hurts my head just thinking about it.